Thailand

Koh Lanta Travel Guide

Koh Lanta is a popular resort area in southern Thailand.
Consisting of two islands, Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi, pretty
much all of the tourist development is on Koh Lanta Yai, often
referred to as simply Koh Lanta.

The island is a great place for travellers looking for a beach
holiday away from the parties and crowds of Phuket, and is popular
with slightly older tourists who populate the resorts and bungalows
that line the beaches.

There are plenty of things to see and do on Koh Lanta, including
exploring the Khao Mai Kaew Caves on foot or elephant-back,
visiting the orchid nursery farm at Long Beach (Pra Ae Beach), and
sunning on the beaches of Klong Dao, Kor Kwang, and the beautiful
Kantiang Bay. Visitors can also get a taste of the culture of Koh
Lanta by visiting Lanta Old Town and the Sea Gypsy Village.

Koh Lanta is not as popular with shoppers as perhaps Bangkok or
Phuket, but all the essentials you need and more are available on
the island. The most popular shopping spot on the island is the
night market near Saladan pier. This market sports everything from
locally made clothes to delicious treats out of a hot wok and
everything in between. Many cafés and small shops cater for
quick purchases and street vendors are popular around the pier for
curios and trinkets. So although not the best place to shop in
Thailand, Koh Lanta does have what you need and the odd bargain on
locally produced goods.

A fairly large island compared to many of the
southern Thai outcrops, Koh Lanta has a good variety when it comes
to restaurants. From the luxurious eateries in the top resorts, to
the lonely street vendor operating from their mobile cart, the food
around Koh Lanta is delicious no matter the location or facility.
It seems that everyone is a chef on Koh Lanta, as around every
corner one finds a sizzling wok cooking beautifully fresh
ingredients or blending together some of the islands freshly picked
mangoes, banana and coconuts for a brilliantly refreshing smoothie
on those scorching tropical days. But Koh Lanta is not all about
the street food, although it is almost always surprisingly good and
remarkably cheap. The island also offers some very fine eateries
serving up both wonderful local and international cuisine. And the
best thing about a good restaurant on Koh Lanta is that the view is
more often than not a breathtaking vista of the bright blue Andaman
Sea and to top that, Lanta is known for its glorious palm fringed
sunsets of bright pink, red and orange.

As a more 'family friendly' island of Thailand, Koh
Lanta is not known for its all night raves like its near neighbour
Koh Phi Phi. This does not mean, however, that Koh Lanta does not
have any nightlife to speak of whatsoever. On the contrary, many of
the beaches, including Phrae Ae (Long Beach) and Klong Dao are
lined with seaside bars which serve as perfect spots for a
sundowner to watch the magnificent Koh Lanta sunsets and often
begin to come to life after dark. If one is looking for more of a
club scene, Saladan Pier would be a good bet and various places
along the northwest coast of Koh Lanta. So although the island id
not renowned for a crazy nightlife, Koh Lanta actually has some
very good pubs and bars, with the odd club to cater for the early
hour dance moves that may be in your repertoire.

Koh Lanta is a great island for a fun, activity filled holiday,
with something for everyone. With many beautiful beaches scattered
around the island, from the popular Phrae Ae (Long Beach) and Klong
Dao to the more hidden and secluded Klong Nin and Kantiang Bay,
visitors can soak up some sun in an environment which best suits
them. The best ways to get to these beaches would probably be by
scooter and what better place to start your riding career than Koh
Lanta. The roads on Lanta are far less busy than many surrounding
islands and the mainland, and therefore, it is the perfect place to
learn to ride a scooter to explore the cliffs and beaches around
the miles of coast. Day trips are also popular from Koh Lanta to
popular diving and scuba spots, including Koh Haa and Hin Muang,
which are rated as some of the best diving locations in Thailand.
Other popular activities include yoga on the beach, cooking lessons
from some fantastic teachers and a visit to the wonderful Koh Lanta
Animal Welfare which so graciously and committed takes care of the
animals of the island and will even let you take a dog to the beach
for a walk.

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Koh Lanta Travel Guide

Koh Lanta is a popular resort area in southern Thailand.
Consisting of two islands, Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi, pretty
much all of the tourist development is on Koh Lanta Yai, often
referred to as simply Koh Lanta.

The island is a great place for travellers looking for a beach
holiday away from the parties and crowds of Phuket, and is popular
with slightly older tourists who populate the resorts and bungalows
that line the beaches.

There are plenty of things to see and do on Koh Lanta, including
exploring the Khao Mai Kaew Caves on foot or elephant-back,
visiting the orchid nursery farm at Long Beach (Pra Ae Beach), and
sunning on the beaches of Klong Dao, Kor Kwang, and the beautiful
Kantiang Bay. Visitors can also get a taste of the culture of Koh
Lanta by visiting Lanta Old Town and the Sea Gypsy Village.

Koh Lanta is not as popular with shoppers as perhaps Bangkok or
Phuket, but all the essentials you need and more are available on
the island. The most popular shopping spot on the island is the
night market near Saladan pier. This market sports everything from
locally made clothes to delicious treats out of a hot wok and
everything in between. Many cafés and small shops cater for
quick purchases and street vendors are popular around the pier for
curios and trinkets. So although not the best place to shop in
Thailand, Koh Lanta does have what you need and the odd bargain on
locally produced goods.

A fairly large island compared to many of the
southern Thai outcrops, Koh Lanta has a good variety when it comes
to restaurants. From the luxurious eateries in the top resorts, to
the lonely street vendor operating from their mobile cart, the food
around Koh Lanta is delicious no matter the location or facility.
It seems that everyone is a chef on Koh Lanta, as around every
corner one finds a sizzling wok cooking beautifully fresh
ingredients or blending together some of the islands freshly picked
mangoes, banana and coconuts for a brilliantly refreshing smoothie
on those scorching tropical days. But Koh Lanta is not all about
the street food, although it is almost always surprisingly good and
remarkably cheap. The island also offers some very fine eateries
serving up both wonderful local and international cuisine. And the
best thing about a good restaurant on Koh Lanta is that the view is
more often than not a breathtaking vista of the bright blue Andaman
Sea and to top that, Lanta is known for its glorious palm fringed
sunsets of bright pink, red and orange.

As a more 'family friendly' island of Thailand, Koh
Lanta is not known for its all night raves like its near neighbour
Koh Phi Phi. This does not mean, however, that Koh Lanta does not
have any nightlife to speak of whatsoever. On the contrary, many of
the beaches, including Phrae Ae (Long Beach) and Klong Dao are
lined with seaside bars which serve as perfect spots for a
sundowner to watch the magnificent Koh Lanta sunsets and often
begin to come to life after dark. If one is looking for more of a
club scene, Saladan Pier would be a good bet and various places
along the northwest coast of Koh Lanta. So although the island id
not renowned for a crazy nightlife, Koh Lanta actually has some
very good pubs and bars, with the odd club to cater for the early
hour dance moves that may be in your repertoire.

Koh Lanta is a great island for a fun, activity filled holiday,
with something for everyone. With many beautiful beaches scattered
around the island, from the popular Phrae Ae (Long Beach) and Klong
Dao to the more hidden and secluded Klong Nin and Kantiang Bay,
visitors can soak up some sun in an environment which best suits
them. The best ways to get to these beaches would probably be by
scooter and what better place to start your riding career than Koh
Lanta. The roads on Lanta are far less busy than many surrounding
islands and the mainland, and therefore, it is the perfect place to
learn to ride a scooter to explore the cliffs and beaches around
the miles of coast. Day trips are also popular from Koh Lanta to
popular diving and scuba spots, including Koh Haa and Hin Muang,
which are rated as some of the best diving locations in Thailand.
Other popular activities include yoga on the beach, cooking lessons
from some fantastic teachers and a visit to the wonderful Koh Lanta
Animal Welfare which so graciously and committed takes care of the
animals of the island and will even let you take a dog to the beach
for a walk.